Westlake Village is home to the first non-orthodox synagogue in the nation to charge no dues and offer religious school, bar mitzvahs and more — all for free.
“Lay leaders and I started the temple almost nine years ago with the commitment that no one should ever be forced to pay to pray or pay to learn,” says founding rabbi, Michael Barclay, who leads Temple Ner Simcha. “No family should have to choose between joining a temple and educating their children Jewishly, or making a car payment and mortgage.”
Temple Ner Simcha is also the largest provider of no-cost services in the country for High Holidays, which take place this year in late September.
The non-denominational temple uses a Conservative prayer book and live musicians, and Barclay leads many of the prayers in English while teaching traditional Judaism, including Talmud and other sacred ancient texts. He describes Temple Ner Simcha as “an inclusive synagogue, theologically and in all ways”.
“Our job as a synagogue is to help people deepen their awareness of their relationship with God through Judaism,” he says.
He is committed to never speak of politics from the pulpit, and never to criticize Israel from the pulpit, which sets the temple apart from others which often lean publicly to one side or the other of the political spectrum.
“My politics are my personal business,” Barclay says. “I do a lot of personal writing but do not believe politics of any sort have a place on the pulpit. We have people on the far left and the far right in our community.”
Rabbi Barclay is fond of quoting Psalm 100, in which King David says that “the work of God is found in joy.” Since starting the synagogue, Barclay, the other clergy, staff and lay leadership have made the temple a place of joy and authentic Jewish teachings
“We try to include both joy and Jewish wisdom in every experience,” Barclay says. “We need more happiness and mutual respect in this world.”
The congregation holds its High Holidays services at the Canyon Club for no cost to attendees, but requires that people register and have a ticket, for safety purposes. They also employ armed security to keep it safe.
“Everyone is welcome to our High Holidays,” says Barclay. “We want to work as a holy community together. There’s respect, there’s caring. We leave all the junk out of the temple. We invite everyone and try to include everyone theologically, philosophically and financially.”
The High Holidays — Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — mark the beginning of the Jewish new year and a time when people can reflect on what they have done wrong, then actively repair those wrongs and determine not to repeat them.
“It’s a contemplative time to repair our lives and our souls,” Barclay says.
More information about Temple Ner Simcha can be found at www.NerSimcha.org., including information about their upcoming High Holiday services and other events.
That wasn’t my experience at all when I attempted to get a Bat Mitzvah as a 75 year old woman at Temple Ner Simcha, with Rabbi Michael Barclay. I was asked for a $450 donation to his temple, after paying $450 to the Hebrew teacher. I was thrown out of class because I didn’t/ couldn’t make the second $450 payment. I was devastated.